Bellingham High School - Epilogue Yearbook (Bellingham, MA)

Page 30 text:

Class Prophecy Irene Wilde It was nearing dusk as the train slowly pulled into the station and I caught a glimpse of my old home town. In the gathering darkness I could see that it hadn ' t changed very much. It had grown a little, a few new stores and shops were scattered here and there, but on the whole it was the same town that I had left ten years before when I began my nursing career. I had entered private nursing and, as I had a week before my next case, decided to stop off at Bel¬ lingham. Except for a car with chief of police written on the door, the station was deserted. I saw the chief coming and walked over to ask if he knew where I might stay. Much to my surprise, the chief was none other than Charles Delaney. He told me to hop in and drove me to their one and only hotel on Maple Street. Chuck conveyed the information that Donald Thayer had gone into the farm business with his father and was doing very well. Donald had evaded marriage so far but it was being rumored about, that at long last, a girl had overcome his resistance to marriage, and had persuaded him that two could live as cheaply as one. As we pulled up in front of the hotel, the chief suddenly turned to me and asked if I had heard that Dave Tuttle was running for governor. Charles was getting as many votes for Dave as possible. Thinking over our school days together, I found it wasn’t hard to picture Dave as a politician. He had always been a good talk¬ er and a likeable chap who could put his ideas across to his audience. Leaving Charles, I entered the hotel and went directly to my room; consequently it was not until the following morning that I met the owner of the hotel. Having ordered my break¬ fast, I glanced across the room and saw Sophie Shahtay, the owner of the establishment, coming over to greet me. The going had been rough at first for Sophie, but the hard times were behind her now and it looked like clear sailing ahead. I asked her if she knew what had become of our classmates and she informed me that Therese Drapeau had started a beauty shop of her own and her partner in this venture was June Gas- kill, our petite, dark-haired classmate. Before parting, plans were made to go shopping in the afternoon. Leaving the hotel about 2 o’clock, we went to a small dress shop where one could buy the latest styles. Jeanne Dubois greeted us with, “May I help you, madame?” Jeanne and Eileen Buckley had gone into business together, Eileen, who had a flair for designing, designed all the clothes sold in the shop and Jeanne took care of the business end. After leaving Jeanne we went to a drug store for a soda and there we met Marie Wilson trimly attired in a nurse’s uniform. The three of us talked over old times together. Marie was now a school nurse and liked her job very much, traveling from one school to another to care for the health of the children. Before we left we made plans to go to the Junior Prom which was to be held at the high school the following eve¬ ning. Marie volunteered to contact as many of our classmates as possible to let them know of our plans. When Marie departed we continued our shopping and bought many odds and ends so that by the time we were ready to start back to the hotel we were heavily laden with bundles. There was no alternative but to hail a passing taxi to speed us on our way. I thought the driver looked familiar but did not recognize him until he turned around and asked us where we wanted to go. I then saw that it was Albert Benoit. He proudly showed us a picture of his twin sons who were four years old. He had married an out-of- town girl and had started a taxi business which was a thriving one. Two other taxis besides the one he himself was driving, were also on the road. When we told him about our plans for the Junior Prom he said he would come with his wife if a nursemaid could be procured for the twins. Early the next morning Marie called to tell us she had been able to get in touch with most of the class and all would come. When Sophie, Marie, and I arrived at the High School, we found some of our classmates there before us. Among them were: Walter Nadonly, Pauline Rossetti, Claire Foley, and Nickey Petrosky. Pauline suggested that we all go to her studio sometime within the next week and have group pictures taken. Pauline had gone into the photography business with Claire

Page 29 text:

■CLASS HISTORY ( Continued ) both the baseball and basketball teams. (Now you know why Bellingham had such a good record.) Of course our Junior year couldn’t go by without a great disappointment—our advisor, Miss Mathieu, left us in February to get mar¬ ried and Mr. Granger was then assigned as class advisor. When April arrived, the event that every Junior longed for was finally ready—the Junior Prom. We spent most of our valuable time— valuable because the days sped by and time was all too short—in decorating for this great occa¬ sion. In the end we received a reward; the Junior Prom was one of the greatest social events that ever took place at B. H. S. After the great event we settled down to work because we realized that final exams were right around the corner and we did want to be Seniors in a few months. After all our worrying, we came through all right. Strangely enough the year was over and a little glad, a little sad, we wend¬ ed our way down the corridor for the last time as Juniors. The next time we walked through the doors of Bellingham High School we would be the Seniors. Many changes occurred during the summer. However, life went on much the same at school. We were pleased to find Mr. Granger was with us as class advisor. Elections came and cam¬ paigning was more heated than ever. The final tally showed Dave Tuttle, President for the fourth year. Dave really did a wonderful job in leading our class throughout our high school course. Claire Foley, Vice-President; Jeannette Dubois, Secretary, and Pauline Rossetti, Treas¬ urer, were our other officers. We opened our social events with the Fresh¬ man Acquaintance Party. The Freshmen faith¬ fully attended this dance and assured us they had a marvelous time. One of our greatest surprises came in Oc¬ tober when the photographer came to tell us we could have our pictures taken and ready for Christmas. We all went big for this idea— Imagine not having to worry about Christmas gifts! As Seniors, we did things we never would dream of doing when we were Freshmen. The underclassmen were surely surprised at us. It was no peculiar sight to see the Senior girls en¬ joying themselves playing jump rope during noon hour or before school. We also took a great liking to lolly-pops and bubble gum. Yes, we were Seniors and not grammar school stu¬ dents. The next great event of the year was the Christmas Ball. It really was a gala affair in spite of the attempts of the weather man to snow us under. Everyone enjoyed the Christ¬ mas atmosphere and the rhythmic music of Cervone’s Orchestra. Of course January couldn’t pass by without the horror of mid-year exams. Having taken them for four years, the suspense didn’t bother us too much. We always hopefully awaited the results and could never quite understand how we could reach an “A” in English and why a “C” in Chemistry was our reward after such diligent study over symbols, reactions, and val¬ ences. Then came the greatest task of our Senior year, the publishing of our year book. Jeannette Dubois was chosen editor-in-chief and was as¬ sisted by the members of her staff. Everyone cooperated to make it one of our greatest accom¬ plishments for it is to be a great and lasting possession of each and everyone of us. The days, weeks, and months seemed to go by so quickly with the same routine—school work, dances, and baseball games. It seemed in no time that June had arrived—Yes, the very June we had been looking forward to all year. How could we concentrate on our studies when Senior week was just ahead? We did manage to weather the storm of final examinations al¬ though our grades showed a marked decline from those received in former years. This did not prevent us from embarking on our final cruise through the most memorable week of our school careers. The first great event of the week was our class outing and we had one solid day of fun. This was followed by our banquet. Here between the steaks, chops, and salads were the songs and laughter of a very happy class. Class Day and Graduation were not so happy, for how could one be anything but sad at the realization that we were swiftly bringing to an end our active association with our Alma Mater. We leave Bellingham High School with re¬ gret and ill-concealed sorrow. We see ahead many years of tentative hardship and labor, but does it daunt us? Oh, no! We feel certain that the training which we have received here, sup¬ plemented by that which we shall l ' eceive in higher institutions of learning or in the business world will help guide us through the many try¬ ing situations which will confront us as we as¬ sume our places in society.

Page 31 text:

CLASS PROPHECY ( Continued) Foley, and for the last two years had taken the Seniors’ graduation pictures. Walter was once again wearing the uniform of the United States Marines but this time it was that of a snappy officer. Nickey Petrosky, who had always been in¬ terested in radio, is now an announcer for the radio station, WWON, 1240 on your dial, in Woonsocket. During intermission we went over to talk to the members of the band. There we found three more members of our class, Edward Richards was the accordion player, Lucien LeClaire played the piano and Roland Jodoin played the violin. Together with a few others they had started the band which was fast becoming the favorite of the surrounding towns. Just then Eunice Foley and Tommy Nichol¬ son entered the auditorium. Tommy is a first- class carpenter and Eunice holds a secretarial position in a law office in Woonsocket. Eunice said she had just received a letter from Marilyn Cowen who was in Washington on a government job. Nancy had taken a Civil Service Exam the summer after we graduated and had been in Washington ever since except for short visits home. Tommy told us that Gerard Daigle had found what he terms the “perfect job,” $60 a week for working 30 hours and a month’s vacation with pay. For recreation and pleasure Gerard plays on the Alumni basketball team. Two of our classmates who were missing were Mike Berardi and Richard Genereaux who are both engineers now doing construction work in Panama for the United States Government. They had gone to engineering school together and were still together on their first big assign¬ ment. Jimmy Janiszesk i had gone into the real es¬ tate business. His specialty was buying run¬ down homes, repairing them, and then reselling at a profit. Charles Sanford had taken up flying and now has his own plane with which he gives fly¬ ing instructions. At the time of the reunion, Charlie was away on a business trip so therefore was unable to be present. Frances Kinnear came in about ten-thirty with her husband. She had married a few weeks after graduation. She greeted us joyfully and said she had been worried about making it as at the last minute the girl they had engaged to care for their children, a boy and a girl, had called to say she couldn’t make it. They had been lucky enough, however, to find another girl to take her place. Wednesday afternoon all of us went to Paul¬ ine’s studio for our group pictures after which all went to the station to see me off. The train started, and as it gradually gath¬ ered speed, my former classmates slowly faded from sight, leaving many remembrances of those happy hours we spent together. Benr £ n - Wemorfar RfeR ScKmT HBrarv iigfiam, Massachusetts QiOij